With files from Samira Balsara
Microsoft becomes the second U.S. firm to reach a $2 trillion market, Study finds why Zoom meetings are causing stress – and it’s not that complicated – and Bill C-10 targets streaming giants
It’s all the biz/tech news that’s popular right now. Welcome to Hashtag Trending! It’s Thursday, June 24 and I’m your host Alex Coop.
Microsoft becomes second U.S. firm to pass $2 trillion market cap from technology
Microsoft has reached a major milestone. The tech giant has reached a $2 trillion market and now becomes the second U.S. firm to do so following Apple. Like many tech companies, Microsoft has benefited from remote work and education. Since the start of lockdowns in March 2020, Microsoft’s stock has increased by 64 per cent. In April, the company said its sales had a 19 per cent growth to $41.7 billion in the first quarter of 2020, much of that fueled by its Azure cloud services and Teams collaboration portfolio. Stay tuned for more news on Microsoft as they are scheduled to drop official news regarding the new Windows 11 OS. [Apple Insider]
Academic research reveals why Zoom calls can be so exhausting, causing “Zoom Fatigue.” The report summarizes four reasons for Zoom Fatigue. Overuse of the eyes, cognitive load, increased self-evaluation from constantly staring at oneself and the lack of physical mobility. Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic suggests there are ways to avoid Zoom calls and still get work done. He says many tasks can get done via email or Slack. Even phone calls are a better option as it eliminates eye use and screen time.
MPs pass Bill C-10, sending controversial broadcasting act legislation to Senate https://t.co/Kf4YetruPm
— Report on Business (@globebusiness) June 22, 2021
And lastly, members of Parliament have passed Bill C-10. The Bill aims to make tech giants like Netflix and Prime Video follow similar rules that traditional broadcasters use. The companies would also be required to offer certain amounts of Canadian content and contribute to its production. There is already a lot of controversy around the bill with many concerned about freedom of expression. Canadians are concerned that the bill would also affect their social media posts. However the bill will likely not pass anytime soon as Senators have declined to pass it right now saying the legislation needs more study. [The Globe And Mail]
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